Emergency Services Foundation

In ESFs next webinar, students hosted by ESF from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Massachusetts will present the findings of their study on how operational deployments impact families, and share recommendations shaped by feedback from emergency service workers, and family members. This session will offer valuable insights for anyone involved in the wellbeing support of emergency service workers and volunteers, and those supporting deployment processes. 📅 Tuesday 9 December | 2–3 pm | via Microsoft Teams Register now: https://lnkd.in/gchNXJYC

Today, we pause to honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who served and those who continue to serve.  Lest we forget. ❤️

EMC’s 25th anniversary was celebrated this year with nearly 400 of Victoria’s emergency management staff, personnel and volunteers across all facets of emergency management. This year’s program was a hit with delegates!  Read more here https://lnkd.in/gBiw9p8S

The Diversity & Inclusion Champion Award honors those who lead with empathy, challenge barriers, and make our workplaces fairer and more inclusive for everyone. Do you know someone who makes a big difference because of the way they act to promote Diversity and Inclusion? 💪 Nominate them today: https://lnkd.in/gnfH5Mvg

ESF was thrilled to see tireless Victoria Police mental health advocate Greg Dean APM CF recognised at the 2024/5 Chief Commissioner’s Safety Awards. Greg worked with ESF’s Family Matters Lead Martine Gilliot and the VicPol Mental Health Centre of Excellence and Innovation to refine ESF’s Families Guide into a product suited to the specific needs of the families of our VicPol members. It is now a key element of Family Days across the Eastern Region and provided to the families of new recruits. This is fantastic example of collaboration and how we can be ‘better together’ when we work together!

How can we design jobs and workplaces that help people thrive, not just get by? Join Prof Monique Crane for an insightful, free webinar on building resilience at work and fostering wellbeing across teams. You will: • understand the risks to employee resilience • dive into cutting-edge research • learn how to build a stronger, healthier workplace 🗓️ Wednesday 19 November | 3–4 pm | via Microsoft Teams 👉 Register now: https://lnkd.in/gkffdvAt

As I reflect on the Emergency Services Foundation 2025 Mental Health Showcase and see how people consistently described feeling inspired, energised and enriched at the end of the day I feel very proud of how we have taken this germ of an idea and grown it into something so exciting and valuable for people across the emergency services sector in Victoria. We love tackling topics that don't often get air time and this year was no exception. Lou Harms was joined by paramedic Jackson Sorati to set the scene speaking about the concept of post traumatic growth. Our Mental Health Advisory Group Chair Kate Connors led a discussion exploring just why participants in ESFs Residential Wellbeing Program consistently tell us it is a life changing intervention. Amy Salmon from presenting partner WorkSafe Victoria used a fabulous analogy of how psychological safety is just like taking a fish out of a dirty tank of water. Dr Sadhbh (Sive) Joyce had us thinking about how empathic distress fatigue can impact people in the emergency services who are likely to be doing what they do because they naturally 'care'. She led us into a moment of zen reflection. I did something I always enjoy, speaking with family members to delve into how the job permeates all aspects of family life. And that was all before lunch! In the afternoon ESF scholarship awardee Mark Welch discussed the Trauma Risk Management System with Tony Ward with a view to making debriefing after potentially traumatic events safer. It all got a bit heavier when Dr. Henry Bowen shared the findings of an Australian first study which looked at the experience of families, coworkers and service providers following the suicide of an emergency service worker. Their findings were confirmed by testing the responses of participants with Mentimeter. And in the hard last slot of the day Paul Liknaitzky, PhD from the The Clinical Psychedelic Lab at Monash University Lab managed to inject humour into the science and left us all better informed about reality of psychedelic treatment for PTSD. What was unique and so refreshing about this event was how we managed to so effectively weave lived experience into every session so it was more story telling than a day of lectures and that certainly hit the mark with participants. Thank you to my team of legends Naomi Watt Franziska Wohlfarth and Martine Gilliot and all the presenters, panelists, facilitators and participants for making it another fabulous ESF day of connection, learning and sharing. We are indeed 'better together'!

We’re thrilled to welcome Paul Liknaitzky, PhD, Head of the Clinical Psychedelic Lab at Monash University, to the ESF Mental Health Showcase on 16 October. In his session, “Psychedelics: a new frontier in PTSD treatment”, Dr Liknaitzky will share groundbreaking research into how psychedelic-assisted therapies could support emergency service workers living with PTSD. He will be joined by Adrian de Boers from Fire Rescue Victoria, who will provide an important agency perspective. Don’t miss this important conversation – book your tickets now! 👉 https://lnkd.in/gZmKB2Kz

We’re honoured to welcome Dr. Henry Bowen, Senior Research Officer at Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA), to the ESF Mental Health Showcase on 16 October. Dr. Bowen leads pioneering research into the impact of suicide on military and emergency services communities. Their work focuses on postvention – the support provided to families and colleagues after a suicide – and aims to develop culturally competent, compassionate care pathways for those affected. In their session, “The Far-Reaching Impact of Suicide”, Dr. Bowen will discuss the ripple effects of suicide within service communities and share insights into building effective postvention strategies, featuring a 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭-𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞 (𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐞𝐑𝐒) - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲. Don’t miss this important conversation – book your tickets now! 👉 https://lnkd.in/gZmKB2Kz

Applications Now Open – ESF Diversity & Inclusion Awards 2026! As part of our International Women’s Day Forum on 5 March 2026, ESF will celebrate the people and programs leading the way in building a more inclusive and equitable emergency services sector. We’re proud to announce our 2026 judging panel: • Vivienne Nguyen - Victorian Multicultural Commission Chairperson • Dr Niki Vincent, Commissioner for Gender Equality in the Public Sector There will be three award categories: 1. Inclusivity Initiative – This award will acknowledge a particular program within one of ESF’s 12 member agencies at the corporate, branch, or unit level. 2. Women’s Equality Initiative – This award will acknowledge a particular program within one of ESF’s 12 member agencies at the corporate, branch, or unit level. 3. Diversity and Inclusion Champion – This candidate will have made a significant impact to advance diversity and inclusion through demonstrated actions and initiative in their workplace, regardless of their role or rank. They should be a shining example of, and role model for, gender diversity and inclusion. Let’s spotlight the inspiring work happening across our sector – apply now! 👉 https://lnkd.in/gnfH5Mvg